Flow control device



I J 1952- H. L. BLUM FLOW CONTROL DEVICE Filed Jan. 4, 1946 INVENTOR.eyMk/[M Hosv'uzk L. BLUM AUTUX/Vf) Patented Jan. 8, 1 952 15;

Hosni'er' L Bl'uin. Fort Wayne, Ind.,- assignor to Bowser, -Inc.,Fort:Wayne-, Ind., a corporation of Indiana,

Application January 4, 1946, Serial no. 639,010

This invention. relates to a fluid flow control valve, morespecifically, itrelates to a' rate of flow responsive valve for limitingthe flow ofifluid through an hydraulic device orinstru'n'rent 'sugchasameter. In a fluid flow device such as a meter, 'itfis desirable thata'regulatory mechanism be placed in the line to control the rateof'flow-offiuid through the device so that it will not -'overspeed andbe damaged.

' It is an object of this invention to provide device to' control orlimit the flow of fluid through themeter.

It isanother object of this invention tojprovided a fiuid flow regulatorwhich is operable on either the inlet or the outlet side of"a"-iluid-flow device. i

It is another object of this invention=tofpro vide a fiuid flow controldevice which is adjustbl 3 It is 'yet another object of this inventionto provide a fluid flow control device which-will provide asubstantially constant now or"; fluid when the supply is adequate.

It is still another object of this inventiomto provide a fluid flowcontrol device which is r sponsive to the velocity of fluid'fiow'through the device. g 1 r These and other objects will becomeapparent from a study of this specifieation'and the draw ings'which areattached hereto and'made a part hereof andin which: l A Figure l is aplan'view of the valve with parts of the body and side plates'in sectiont'ofshow the butterfly valve, the vane' andthelirikage. The section istaken substantially on-the iine l'l of Figure 2. I v 1 Figure 2 is asection taken on the" line 7- 2 of Figure 1, showing the butterflyvalve-aridth vane in full open position. Y

Figure 3 is a section taken on the-line 3 -3 of Figure'2, showing theconnection a th 's' guide and the link with the vane 1 Referring toFigures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the numerall designates the valve b'odywhich has an inletflange" 3 which maybe connected with an outlet flange5 on a fluid flow' devicel, such .as, for example, a rotary or otherrneter.

A cylindrical conduit 9 of the body has a bore H which connects theflange 3 with a chamber 13 which in turn connects witlia cylindricalo'l'i't let conduit l5 which terminates in an outlet flange l9. Flanges2| are formed on each sid'eof the body and'conform generally to theshpa-or chamber l3 as'viewedin Figure 2f r r 6 Claims. (Cl. -137--'152) Aboss 23 extends from the top of thebody, is

inclinedto-the right as shown in Figure 2, and

is p'rov'ided with an axial, tappedhole 25.

Side plates 27, adapted to seal the sides-of the chamber '13, mate withtheflanges 2! and are held seated on gaskets 29 by cap screws 3i.

Bearings 33 are formed in the body and flanges 2i and clearance holes 35are drilled part way through the sealing faces ofthe side plates 2'1.

in line with the'bearingst't, which are substantially' on the horizontalcenterline" of the bore.

Corresponding holes 31 are formed in gasket cal hub 41 which is providedat each end with a V boreflS which ,is in alignment with the holes 33and 35 described above.

.Alsoformed on the hub near the center of the valve and disposed onopposite sides thereof are a pair of ears 45 and alug-H respectively.Both the pairof ears and the lug lie to the left of the axis of the hubwhen the valve is in the horizontal position (Figure 2). The ears :35are perforated at 5| to receive a pin 59. The lug i'i tends to returnthe valve toward the Figure 2 position.

Journalpins '53 are pressed into the holes 53 in the boss M and extendthrough the bearings 33 in the side flanges and project into the holes35in the side plates. This construction permits ready removalof the pinsafter the side plates have been removed and thus'facilitates repairs,etc. A link 55 enters the slot 49 which separates ears 45 and has a hole51 near one end. A headed pin 59 enters the holes 5| throughl'the hole51 to hold the link and valve together. A shaft clip 6!. engages a notchon the pin end opposite the head. Another hole 53 is located at theopposite end of thelink.

A Vane is hinged on a shaft 6'! whichis mounted in the upper left handcorner of the chamber l3. The shaft extends through bosses 69 on thevane and is journalled in blind bearings H formed in the sideplates. Thevane is provided with a vertical slot 13 and a pair of ears 15 projectfrom the right hand side of the vane (Figure 2), one on each side of theslot. Thes'eears are provided with aligned holes l1. Twoaribs TQextend:the length of the vane on either side and are provided with projections8| which serve as a stop for the vane in its up position, theprojections striking the top wall of the body I.

A spring guide '83, comprising a stem and a bonnet.

yoke portion 81 fixed to the bottom of the stem forming a shoulder 89 attheir junction, is connected to the vane. Holes 9I extend through thelegs of the yoke. The vane, the link 55 and the spring guide areassembled as shown in Figures 2 and 3 and are held in place by theheaded pin 93, which enters the holes 91 in the yoke. holes I! in theears and the hole 63 of the link. A spring clip 95 holds the pin inplace.

Pins 97 project into the chamber I3 from the side plates 2'! and providea stop for the vane its lower position, shown in Figure 2. Thisdetermines the full open position of the valve.

The stem 85 of spring guide 83 extends through the hole 25 in the bodyandinto the bore 99 of a tubular bonnet IOI which is externally threadedat its lower end I03 to engage the threads 25.

tion. Accordingly, applicant does not desire to be limited to thespecific embodiment disclosed herein primarily for purposes ofillustration; but

Directly above the threads, hexagon I05 is provided for wrenchengagement. A shoulder I01.

formed by the junctureor the threaded portion .I03 and the hexagon I05,provides a seat tor the gasket I08 which seals against the top of boss23. The bonnet is counter-bored and internally threaded at I09.

A spring III is held in compression against the shoulder 89 on the yokeof the spring guide 83 by a screw II3 which has a guide portion l I5formed on the lower end. The screw enga es threads .109. A cap II'Ihaving a threaded portion H9, engages the threads I09 above the screwH3, and, with gasket I2I, seals the end of the Operation U Applicantsflow control valve may be placed on either the inlet or outlet side of ameter or other instrument, however,the outlet side ispreferred, becausesuch mounting prevents wire drawin and other undesirable effects. VThenormal position of the butterfly and vane is with the vane in contactwith pins 91 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. 'This position is maintainedby pressure exerted by the spring III upon the vane until the flow ofliquid increases sufliciently to overcome the pressure of the spring andto swing the lower end of the vane 65- upward in an are about shaft 61.I r I The upward motion of the vane is transmitted through link '55 topartially close the butterfly 39, thus limiting the flow through thebore II and, of course, the flow through any fluid flow device locatedupstream or downstream of the valve will be varied accordingly. However,should the velocity of the liquid increase further, the vane will movefarther in a counter-clockwise direction to close the valve more.' Thelimit is reached when the stops BI contact the body I. Should thevelocity decrease, the spring will rotate the vane clockwise and openthe valve accordingly, and thus the valve will vary the volume of flowthrough the conduit inversely as the velocity of the flowing fluidvaries.

' The minimum velocity to which the valve will respond may be selectedby adjusting the compression applied by spring III. For instance, thevalve shown is of 3" pipe-size. It will have a, capacit range of 225 to300 g. p. m., depending upon the pressure exerted by the spring III.When it is desired to limit the flow to the lower figure, the'adjustingscrew H3 is backed up in threads I09 to lessen the pressure of springIII on the vane .65, whereby the vane will startto close the butterflyat a relatively ,low fluid velocity.- Conversely, when it is desired tolimit the flow to the upper figure, the adjusting screw .is tighteneddown to increase the spring pressure instead he desires, protectionfalling fairly within the scope" of the appended claims.

What I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. In a fluid flow control valve, a body having an inlet and an outlet,a source of fluid under pressure connected; to said inlet, a butterflyvalve in said inlet movable between open and closed positions, aswinging vane in said body, a link pivotally connected at one end tosaid butterfly valve and pivot means connecting the other end of saidlink to said vane, means mounting said vane in the Path of the fluidflowing through said inlet, said vane being progressively moved out ofsaid path, as the flow increases the link connection being so arrangedas to move said butterfly valve toward the closed position as the vanemoves out of said flow path, a plunger having one end connected to saidvane by said pivot means and a spring acting on said plunger to urgesaid vane into the path of said fluid.

2. In a fluid flow control valve, a valve body having an inletand anoutlet, a source of liquid under pressure connected to said inlet, abutterfly valve movable between open and closed positions in said inlet,a swinging vane in said body, means mounting said vane in the path ofthe fluid flowing through said inlet, said vane being progressivelymoved out of said path, as the flow increases, means comprising a linkconnected at either end to the valve and. vane, the link connectionbeing so arranged as to move said butterfly valve toward the closedposition as the vane moves out of said flow path, a plunger connected tothe vane and a spring acting upon said plunger for urging said vane intothe flow of; said fluid, and stops limiting the movement of said vaneandsaid butterfly valve.

3. In a fluid valve, a bodyhaving a central chamber, side covers forsaid chamber, an inlet and an outlet communicating with said chamber,the walls of said chamber having a pair of diametrically opposed holesformed therein, each of said covers having a blind hole aligned with theholes in the walls, a butterfly valve mounted to control the inlet andhaving a hub, journal means formed in said hub, pin means mounted insaid holes and journal means for rotatably supporting said valve, saidpins being held in place by said covers. v

4. In a liquid flow control valve, a body having a chamber, an' inletand, an outlet for said chamber, each having ,a cross-sectional areasubstantially smaller than that of the chamber, means for supplying aflow of liquid to said chamber, a vane, means mounting said vane in thepath of the fluid flowing through said inlet, said vane beingprogressively moved out of said path, as the flow increases, means forurging saidvane into the path of the flow, means for limiting the motionof said vane, in response to said urging ans is, a po i ion in wh c h cIective cross-sectional area of the chamber, at the vane, is at leastsubstantially equal to that of the inlet, said vane being pivotallymounted at its upper end, a valve movably mounted to control the flow ofliquid through said body, and means connecting said vane to actuate saidvalve, said connecting means being so arranged as to move said valvetoward closed position as the vane moves out of the flow path.

5. In a fluid flow control valve, a valve body having an inlet and anoutlet, a source of liquid under pressure connected to said inlet, avalve disposed in said inlet and having shaft means extending throughthe case at either side, an open-ended chamber in said bodycommunicating with the inlet and outlet, a swinging vane having itsupper end pivotally mounted on shaft means which project through saidbody, means for connecting said vane to said valve, caps for the ends ofthe chamber, detachably connected to the body and sealingly coveringboth said shaft means, said vane being mounted in the path of the fluidflowing through said inlet, said vane being progressively moved out ofsaid path, as the flow increases, said connecting means being soarranged as to move said valve toward the closed position, as the vanemoves out of said flow path, to restrict said inlet, and resilient meansfor urging said vane into the path of said fluid, comprising a plungerconnected to said vane and a spring acting on said plunger.

6. In a fluid flow control valve, a valve body having an inlet and anoutlet, a source of fluid under pressure connected to said inlet, avalve movable between open and closed positions in said inlet, aswinging vane having its upper end pivotally mounted in said body andmeans for connecting said vane to said valve, said vane being mounted inthe path of the fluid flowing through said inlet, said vane beingprogressively moved out of said path, as the flow increases, saidconnecting means being so arranged as to move the valve toward theclosed position as said vane moves out of said flow path, means forurging said vane into the path of said fluid comprising a plunger, aspring for actuating said plunger, means pivotally connecting saidplunger to actuate said vane, and means for adjusting the pressure ofsaid spring.

HOSMER L. BLUM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 635,329 Weston and Jackson Oct.31, 1899 791,447 Breath June 6, 1905 843,959 McBride Feb. 12, 19071,201,492 Newton Oct. 17, 1916 1,229,500 Newton June 12, 1917 1,550,233Anderson Aug. 18, 1925 1,605,269 Myer Nov.2, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 484,303 France of 1917

